The present study updates previously published biodiversity/faunistics of the flea beetles of Mexico published by the author after examination of 6132 specimens from 8 institutional collections. The following 9 genera were selected as indicators of the effects of known diversity only through examination of museum specimens (i.e., “indoor collecting”): Alagoasa Bechyné; Asphaera Chevrolat; Capraita Bechyné; Disonycha Chevrolat; Kuschelina Bechyné; Omophoita Chevrolat; Prasona Baly; Systena Chevrolat; and Walterianella Bechyné. From the specimens examined in these genera from the 8 collections, there were 394 new records for Mexican states of the 287 new species records representing 47% new records of the species recorded from those states. Total new state records 287 from 80 species. States with most new records: Chiapas (32); Nayarit (27); Sinaloa (24). 80 spp. (47%) with new state records. Systena
oberthuri Baly is reported from Mexico for the first time. The current total of Alticinae in Mexico is 90 genera/626 species. The difficulties of the generic boundaries between Systena and Prasona, Alagoasa and Kuschelina; as well as the specific boundaries between A.
jacobiana and A.
decemguttatus and the specific level pattern variation in Disonycha
glabrata and Alagoasa
decemguttatus are discussed. Kuschelina
semipurpurea, formerly placed in Alagoasa, is placed is considered as a new combination.
The widely held assumption that very few arthropods feed on ferns was questioned following field observations of arthropod damage on ferns in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. The extent and type of damage was recorded and it was found that in a measured locality, ferns were no less attacked than the angiospermous flora. As chemistry and arthropod host relationships have been shown to be so closely intertwined, plants collected in the field were analysed for both condensed tannins and cyanogenic glycosides, compounds known to be effective deterrents in temperate climates. Although all ferns tested contained tannins these did not appear to inhibit predation. Cyanogenic glycosides were present in only 3% of the fern species analysed, and it is, therefore, unlikely that they play a significant role as defensive compounds in the ferns examined.A literature search revealed a large number of ferns cited as being arthropod hosts. Approximately 420 named species of arthropods have been recorded, the majority of which are from the orders Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera. Both evolutionary primitive (sawflies) and advanced (moths) arthropods are reported to be present on ferns suggesting possible coevolution of arthropods and ferns both before and after the radiation of angiosperms.
The Allonemobiu.s fasciatus De Geer complex, a group oi closely related ground crickets, has proven recalcitrant to analysis by traditional methods of museum tax onomists. Here we formally describe two new species A. walkeri and A. fultoni, reinstate the species status of A. socius Scudder, and provide an electrophoretic key to the complex In addition, we describe male calling song, habitat, life cycle, and geographic distribution of each species in the complex, and we compare the species morphometrically. FULTON 1931, 1933, 1937 recognized three sub species or forms "physiologically distinct" of Al lonemobius fasciatus De Geer formerly in Ne mobius: A. f. fasciatus, A. f. sodas Scudder, and A. f. tinnulus Fulton, but he did not treat 474
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